Admiral Christopher Grady (’84) from the US Fleet Forces Command
Please join the Notre Dame International Security Center as we welcome Notre Dame’s first four star flag officer, Admiral Christopher Grady, to discuss “Global Challenges to Sea Control."
The event is free and open to the public. Please use the southeast doors (closest to the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center).
Biography
Adm. Christopher Grady is a native of Newport, Rhode Island. He is a graduate of Notre Dame and was commissioned an ensign through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program. Grady is a distinguished graduate of Georgetown University where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies while concurrently participating as a fellow in Foreign Service at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also a distinguished graduate of the National War College earning a Master of Science in National Security Affairs.
He assumed command of U.S. Fleet Forces Command/U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command on May 4, 2018.
In his most recent assignment, he was the commander, U.S. 6th Fleet and the commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, while simultaneously serving as the deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa.
Additional flag assignments include director of the Maritime Operations Center (N2/3/5/7), Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1/Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group where he deployed for nearly 10 months to the Western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf conducting combat operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve; and commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic.
At sea, Grady’s initial tour was aboard USS Moosbrugger (DD 980) as combat information center officer and antisubmarine warfare officer. As a department head, he served as weapons control officer and combat systems officer aboard USS Princeton (CG 59). He was commanding officer of Mine Countermeasures Rotational Crew Echo aboard USS Chief (MCM 14), and deployed to the Arabian Gulf in command of USS Ardent (MCM 12). Grady then commanded USS Cole (DDG 67), deploying as part of NATO’s Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean. As commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, he deployed to the Arabian Gulf as sea combat commander for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Ashore, Grady first served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then as naval aide to the chief of naval operations. He also served on the staff of the chief of naval operations as assistant branch head, Europe and Eurasia Politico-Military Affairs Branch (OPNAV N524). He then served as executive assistant to the Navy’s Chief of Legislative Affairs. Next, he served as the deputy executive secretary of the National Security Council in the White House. He then went on to serve as the executive assistant to the chief of naval operations.
His personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four gold stars, Meritorious Service Medal with four gold stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, and the Combat “V”, and Joint Service Achievement Medal. Grady is a joint specialty officer.
Originally published at ndisc.nd.edu.